Jesse Crain says calf strain shouldn’t delay his timetable to return

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Jesse Crain’s MRI on his right calf showed a low-grade strain, he said Thursday.

“It just said a Grade 1 strain,” the Astros reliever said. “The biggest thing for a strain is that you got to let it calm down.”

Before he suffered the calf injury on Tuesday, Crain was not expected to be available for the Astros until some time in April, after opening day. He’s coming off an October arm operation.

General manager Jeff Luhnow said Wednesday that the injury “will probably be some sort of setback.” On Thursday, however, Crain did not think his timetable had not been altered because of the calf.

He can continue his throwing program without pause, albeit in modified fashion.

“No, I don’t think this changes it,” Crain said. “If anything it causes me not to rush, which I’ve been trying not to do the whole time.”

The boot Crain is wearing on his right leg could be removed within a couple days if all goes well, he said. He wears it now because it’s easier to walk with it, but when the boot’s been off, Crain said he’s already noticed improvement.

Crain had a scheduled off-day from throwing on Thursday. His initial plan is to throw from his knee on Friday and Saturday so that he can keep building arm strength as he works his way back from right biceps surgery.

Within a week, Crain hopes to be able throw from a normal standing position — but he won’t be firing it too hard at that piont.

“As far as standing here and being able to throw,” Crain explained, “I should be able to start throwing regularly hopefully within a week, but that’s just me guessing.”

A week after that, he hopes the explosiveness returns and he can let it go with regular force.

“For when I’ll be full-go, it’ll probably be a couple weeks,” Crain said. “The last thing that’s going to come is being explosive off of it.”

Crain said that the calf injury is minor enough that he doesn’t feel the same frustration he has with the biceps injury, or that everything is piling on.